Muskoka Residence, Ontario [CA]

EeStairs + Hariri Pontarini Architects

Set on a rocky Muskoka shoreline, this residence is organised as a series of low pavilions with green roofs and large glass fronts to the lake. EeStairs was asked to design and engineer three key staircases that connect the main house, a separate pavilion and the boathouse, without disturbing the calm architectural lines.

Inside the main house, the primary stair is deliberately quiet. Slim steel stringers are hidden inside the wall and timber, so what you read is a sequence of wide oak treads and a single solid bronze handrail that tracks the curve of the deep red wall. The warm EePatina finish makes the handrail a tactile element rather than a visual statement, matching the refined interior palette of wood, stone and softly lit ceilings.

In the glass pavilion, the stair becomes more expressive. A slender steel framework carries timber treads and another continuous bronze handrail, creating a clear horizontal rhythm against the full height glazing. At the water’s edge, the boathouse stair uses Starphire glass guards, primed steel structure and stone treads to give safe access between dock and patio while keeping views to the lake completely open. Across all three stairs EeStairs coordinated closely with the architect, general contractor, stone and glass suppliers, so that every junction feels precise and the circulation through the house is effortless.